Rotator Cuff Injuries Can Cause Considerable Pain and a Loss of Sleep

The rotator cuff tear is an injury we come across a lot as personal injury lawyers here in Virginia.

The rotator cuff is a series of muscles that hold your arm into the socket and helps with range of movement or motion. There are two types of rotator cuff tears. There are degenerative which entail wear and tear and the aging process. There is also acute which is caused by a traumatic event such as a vehicle accident or a fall. That’s the scenario where we see it the most as Virginia Beach car accident lawyers.

I find with vehicle accidents, people can anticipate an accident is about to happen, or they see a car is coming at them and they grip that wheel as hard as they can. Or they slam their shoulder into the wheel and that can often cause that traumatic tear of the rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff injuries can be treated with rest but often it won’t repair on its own. You will have to get steroid injections or even a surgical procedure to correct it. It’s a very serious injury and a very painful injury.

Over and over again I hear that people who suffer these injuries have a difficult time sleeping.

Here are some frequently asked questions.

1 If I have a rotator cuff injury, will it cause damage if I keep using it?

A rotator cuff tear can get larger over time. This can occur with repetitive use or a re-injury. It is quite common for patients with known rotator cuff disease to have acute pain and weakness following a minor injury. This likely represents extension of an existing tear.

If you know you have a rotator cuff tear, then worsening pain and decreasing strength may mean the tear is getting larger and more serious.

2 Can a Rotator Cuff Injured be Healed Without Surgery?

The majority of rotator cuff tears can be treated non-surgically. If you have suffered this injury you should take anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and have physical therapy.  The goals of treatment are to relieve pain and restore strength to your shoulder.

3 What Should I do if Someone Else Caused My Injury?

If you sustained this injury in a car wreck and it was another driver’s fault, you should call our Virginia Beach personal injury lawyers at 757.455.0077 because you probably have grounds to file an insurance claim against the policy of the at-fault driver.